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The Pope Was Right About Condoms

It seems Pope Benedict XI was exactly right about HIV. In his recent comments on his way to Yaoundé, Cameroon, he said “the scourge cannot be resolved by distributing condoms; quite the contrary, we risk worsening the problem”.

It’s unbelievable when the pope starts to quote science, but it’s even more shocking when so many reject plain facts ["AIDS and the Churches: Getting the Story Right"]. The quote “hell hath no fury as a woman scorned” seems representative for the reaction. But this was not only about women, and hell has everything to do with it.

Between 1992 and 2001, condom sales in Cameroon increased from 6 million to 15 million. In that same time period, HIV prevalence tripled from 3% to 9%. An estimated 22 million in Africa have HIV, which is the direct precursor to AIDS. Three quarters of AIDS deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa, as is Cameroon…

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) estimates there were 1.1 million persons with HIV/AIDS in the US in 2006. A CDC historical trend suggests there are at least 40,000 new infections annually in the US.

Even tests of only seminal fluid show only one micro-liter may contain up to 100,000 HIV particles, any one of which could pass through a normal hole in latex without touching the sides (William Gairdner/1995/ Condoms and HIV). Within medical circles, there is wide agreement condoms afford virtually no protection during anal sex.

Even if there were no pores in latex, in-use breakage and slip-off rates are “so high as to make condoms ineffective for protection against HIV”(Biochemist and Molecular Biologist/ Dr. David Collart/ Stone Mountain, Ga.). The Alan Guttmacher Institute published an article in Planned Parenthood Family Planning Perspectives on 5/89—20 years ago. It stated condoms have an 11.4-22.3% failure rate for teens. Reported in the British Journal of Medicine(7/11/87) was a failure rate of 26% due to rupture and slippage alone. Teens continually say their Sex Ed classes are not informing them of these facts.

This research backs the pope’s teachings on condom use per Dr Edward C. Green. The US funded Demographic Health Surveys have shown “a consistent association between greater availability and use of condoms and higher HIV infection rates.”

The late Cardinal Alfonso Trujillo said condoms may help spread AIDS though a false sense of security. Condoms can even be worse than just plain ineffective. Dr. Green explained to MercatorNet that condoms “may even exacerbate HIV infection levels due to a phenomenon called risk compensation, or behavioral disinhibition. People take more sexual risks because they feel safer than is actually justified when using condoms.”

Martin Sempaa (Ugandan consultant/AIDS prevention) said “why does the nations in Africa with the highest condoms correspond with the highest HIV/AIDS? These include Botswana and South Africa who have the first and highest condoms per male, yet their numbers of HIV/AIDS are also the same.”http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09031906.html

Per Sempaa, condoms have not reduced HIV/AIDS anywhere in the world…more condoms across Africa have resulted in more HIV. Sam Ruteikara (co-chair Uganda’s AIDS-Prevention Committee), has realized that most HIV infections in Africa are spread by sex outside of marriage, in particular infidelity and casual sex. He knew the solution was faithful love.

When one asks if there is a way to stop AIDS in its tracks, the answer is absolutely. The traditional teaching of the Catholic Church on chastity outside of marriage and fidelity within it proved it was the only sure way of stopping the spread of HIV and AIDS. Any person you ask who’s fulfilled this correct moral behavior can verify this.

But on 5/12/09, President Obama’s fiscal year 2010 Proposed Budget authorized $50 million in new mandatory condom grants to states (Abstinence Clearinghouse). It was part of the recommendation to Congress to eliminate funding for abstinence education, and instead pour funds into condoms and sex education.

Evidently, some still want their immoral behavior and a cure for HIV too. Hopefully they will come around sooner, than later. If condoms had to be labeled as other harmful items are (i.e., cigarettes), the perfect official warning should be, “Expect death”.